Vvvvvvvvvvxi



sept. 4, 1923. 1,466,829

W. W` HAWKINS IGNITION SYSTEM Filed June 26 1916 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 sept, 4, 1923.

W. W. HAWKINS IGNITION SYSTEM Filed June 2s 191 .4 sheets-sheet? Sept. 4, 1923.

W. W. HAWKINS IGNITION SYSTEM Filed June 26 1916 4 Sheets-Sheet I5 sept. 4, 1923.

W. W. HAWKINS IGNITION SYSTEM Filed June 26 1916 4 Sheets-Shut 4 fig/y.

Patented Sept. 4, 1923.

UNITED @STATES PATENT OFFICE- WILLIAM w. HAWKINS, OF'N'EW YORK. N1 Y., assIGNon tro H. a II. IGNITION coa- POBATION; or N Izw YORK, N. Y., a CORPORATION or` NEW YORK;

IGNITION' SYSTEM.

, 4Al'lplilbition filed Juie 26, 1916. Serial No. 1D5,838.

To all wlwm'z't'fmay cemem: y

B e -it known that I, VILLIAM W. HAW- KrNs, a citizen ofthe United States,'resid ing at New York, fin vt he,county oivNew York and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful 'Improvement Vin Ignition Systems, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact descriptioneference being had-,to the'accjompanyingldraw- In S tv jfl" `k VM i.

t('gfhis invention lrelates generally to ignition 'systems' for. internaljeomhustion 4,engines and more articularly to one foruse in `connection with a -muttipolarf vmagneto such as used upon fF ord. oarsv atthe present time.- This device overcomes theinherent defectof thisconstructiQIlJOLmagneto as it always `provides fonia; coordination O f movement between.' the partei :generating electrical energy,-thev parts 'Iequlring i electrical energy at predeterminedperiods, and interposing y in f the pathii of ysaid electrical energy the minimum:A i uji ,-resistanjce, every part being" mechanicallgeontrolled and actuated by positivemec f nieal means.

One object ,of 'thednyention iswtq com; pletely eliminate :the `use or`,,separate coils for each. cylindernandinthem object to materiallycheap'en/` andsilnp1if the com structionofathesystenras agwho elfY f A further Objectotheinxention is to dispense with the yuse of magnetic-interrupters and at the same time: prmjde-.a system in whichI there.' is. a; positive oorelatoltm1 {between they current .wave andthe .firin -1 period of theengine', anda' stillimjther o jectof the invention isto, provide for-.Synchronize in V theignition Vperiods?with current imf pu ses; giving positive?contactfof, breaker points at the-maximum0il1rrent in the primary coil thus insuringl a; hotsparkifor starting: vwith A further and; very) important .Objectis to provi'de a current; WaveJofI'an undulating contour at the #pea-k:lin,contradistinction from the pointof jaggedfoontonr heretofore prevalent in ignition systems ofithischaracter. i :21' Y A still furtherl objecteof the :invention is to eliminate all sliding and rolling contacts in the primary circuit of ignitionfsystems, having every motion and movement of parts so coordinatedbr synchronized that the eiement of time duration is reduced to a mini'- lnum and ali actions performed mechanically in a positive manner so that same are repeated without lag or dwell at all speeds as required for commercial usage. All wearing parts are locatedtolbe easy of access for inspection, adjustment and repair. All moving parts are few in number and of wear-resistin material. f

Another o ject of the invention is to provide for dispensing with the .time interval necessary for the saturation ofthe core of the coil and movement of interrupter armature thereby materiallyy expediting the operation of. the device as a Whole, and it is ,also an. Object of the invention to provide a system capable of use in either a horizon tal'or vertical position.

It is also. intended Ito provide af system capable of use in connection withfa battery as well as with a'magneto,as a sourceof elec- With theseobjects in view, and certain others which wilLappear hereinafter, as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features of construction and the manner of -arrangingorcombining the same, all` of which will be fully described hereinafterl and pointed out intheappended claimsg- .i j ne v l Infthe drawings forming appart of lthis specicaton, Figi, is-a face view of,a,de vice embodying my-invention and applied in a horizontal position at-the forward end of; the" camshaft;- Fig. 2 asimilar view, the operative mechanlsm howeveribeing arrangedat one-. side-offthe cam shaft and driven throughzthe interpositionof `the 4train of ."'vears;^Fig-. 3 `is a view showing the mechanism arranged ina substantialrverti.- cal osition and: receivingv its power from the orward end `of the cam yshabthrough themedium ofibevel gears; Figi-4 is adiagrammatic view illustrating the complete system;-'Fig.i 5 is a verticalzsectionalpview on the line 575 of Fig. 1l; Figp is a sectional elevation on the line6-6 of Fig. 5; Fig: is a side elevation ofthe devic'e`iliustrated in Fig. 2; Fig.18 is-a sectional view on the line 8-8 of Fig. 9; Fi 9 is an inverted sectional 4plan onf the dine 9 9 of Fig. 8'; Fig. 10 is a central section taken on the line 1010 of Fig. 3;V Fig. ll is a sectional plan on the line llll of Fig. 10; Fig. 12 is a sectional plan on the line 12-12 of Fig. l0; Fig. 13 is a vertical sectional View on the line i3-i3 of Fig. 12; Fig. 14

is a perspective -viem of the .bottom plate; Fig. 15 isa"section`ul view on'the line 151;-15 of the distributer shown in Fig. Fig. 16

is a detail .Perspective View ofthe-metallicA cup or casi-ng ini-*Which-theinterruptor is located; Fig. 17 is a sectional View on the line 17-17 of Fig. 5, the view beingsimilar to Fig. and Fig. 18 is a perspective view of the adjusting plate shown in Figi2 10.

Referring first to the construction illustrated in liligs,' 1,-"., '6,15' and 16; IQ0 indi entes ai east'nietal :plate bolted to' the frame of the internal f combustion engine and through 'which' the'cam sh't 21ffof 'said engine passes, the-fasting plate being recessed to receive an absorbent l packingiwasher 22. This washer prevents-oil romffollowin'g the camfshaftland seepi'ng into the' ignition apparatus." The' front a'ceiiftlie" castingA plate is^als`oformed with 'anlannul'a bos's23 n which the 'steel cupl orfcsing of thenterrupter' isi-fadptedfto-'fiw fsaidfjst'eel f c'up per- Eforming?, dim-l setvic'efbi'ng lretaming'plate oil from entering :the ignition' apparatus 'a nd with .its closed sides entering* imtotlie distributerfiii'olting" the' appaatdsifa's a unit Water tight# -is` the distrilnterl casing' of balteite metres-or any3 'suitable dielectricnm'- terial, secured to the castinr plate' -byimeans Yirffa. serews' 26x passingfhrogh integral litera earsoffthe easn'ginto the casting pltegthf'eslsingf beigfrovided withan overlappingannular s'loulder :25a which bas p'jtlie'fnnkilar 23 at one side, ,saii'diss Being ciitiawayupon the opposite 'sdetopet fthe movementf off the" lugv 27 attached to the metallic cup 24, anditx'vill notedithat the -casihgj-'etends over and contacts with the 'outer edge offthefmtallic Acmg," therebypoetoning'ine 'samewichin uw bosso thecasting plage-but @emitting the same tbe shifted back and foith as desired.

' Attached to the? Vl)ottoin rrfr the steelf cupy 24 sla iii-asis plate 28fb`y= meansiof asc'rew 29 Apaesini; through a curved 'slot e() produced in sadplatand bymeans of which 'theiplate canbe-"adjustedin' order to cause the interrupten to become-operative'exactly upon the peaknf thewaveg'and inasmuch as'the mech anism herein-shown=ancl described isadapted for fuse in `connection :with multipolarlma eto having sixteen-:poles there wil-1 be'thirtyltwo magneticfmpulses at' each revolution of thef shaft inasmuchA as there willbetwo revolution'sfof rning'fnetol to each rew'foltiono cani "shaft and' consequently by Vmea-ns of i an adjustment within the limits 'of-112 it isfpoible toarrangethe interru-pterso as'bosbrealr the circuit only upon the exact' peak 'of theA wave thereby securing the fullforce and-effect of the electric'mpuises. v

r T-he plate `28f is provided 'With au adjustable contact point 31 and piifotedto sui-.i

plate at -.substantially. the`4 opposite `side is the curvedarm 32 carrying a contact point 33 at the free end thereof, said arm 32 hav ing a fiber projection 34 .intermediate its ends and adaptedto Contact 4with the quadruple cam 35 by means of ivhich the current is interrupted 'four times at each revolution of the cam shaft.

The oontourof this cam is such that it closes the primary circuit four times for each revolution of shaft;v to which it isattached, the time interval of each closed contact period is equivalent to one half of onewave period of currentV fas generated by said multi-polar magneto orto be ex-act 5{ of the cycle of cam shaft travel said eam'being so positioned in relation to waves of current as generated by magnetoLthat the opening of closed Contact points occurs coincident Withthe rise of voltage to its maximum. A spring 36 normally holds the -arm l32in lits-proper operative positionwithfreferenoe to the fixed contaetpoint.v

The ca'stingplate 2O is formedfuith a radial tubular :extension 2/0 at'one side thereof and in' which-is' located ia ball or sphere 37 whichfis adapted Vto engage one of a" series of "openings or Vdepressions 38 producedin'the side "of thorsteel `cup 24 for the'fpurpo'sefof holding'` 'said cup in itsfad- -justed position,`thefball='or sphere-37 being held in contact witlifthe st eel'cupgby means of' a# spring 39 which? in' turn 'is secured by means of the plugO secured init-heend of the tubular 'extension as most clearly shown inFig.=6. Thef'openings 38lnrespaced lllo from center'toicenter sothat iu the adjust- -ment ofthe cup fonthefpurposeof retardingr the' sparkfthe contacts' will; -aljways be separated onlyatthe alk'df'thefyvave.

It will be' understoodl that the ou rrent from the-magneto lpasses*through the primary coil 4l' before reachin'gltheadjustable Contact point 31 and 'at eaehf interruption oil the primaljy1current-,-iuducedcurrents will be set up through thel secondar'ycoil' 3,' and'from this-secondary coilI the conductor wire leads to-a springpressed Contact point41= arranged centrally inthedistributer casing 25mm] adapted tofengafge 4the contact plate 42 embedded in a'disl: 4,3 of dielectric material. said disk being rigidly connected to a. nut 44 screwedv upon the end of the cam shaft 2l. The contact'pla-te A42 extends eKactl-.xr to the outer edge of the disk43 which ismade slightly smaller than the internal diameter of the casing 25, and embeddcrl-inthemonconductingwalls of the casing are the contact blocks 45 located atangles of 90 apart, the inner faces of said blocls being Hush with the interior of the casingrand rurved upon the sume arc as'the interior walls of said casing so that as the disk rotates. carry ing with it the Contact plate 42, the current., being of high potential7 will pass from suifl plate to the contactblocks 4While the plate and blocks are in juxtaposition, this taking placesimultaneously with the interruption of the current through the medium-oi the cam inasmuchvasthe plate 42 is positioned so as to be in juxtapositionfwith one of the contact blocks at each interruption of the current. .f

As before stated the Contact blocks 45. are embedded inthe casing 25 off-'dielectric ma.A teria] and each block 45 has an extension or lug 45a; whicli'lugs are so rpositioned that theconductor wires can readily connected thereto,1 these extensions being positioned in such a manner ivith reference to the contact blocks that' all interior'V connections are in a straight line'. From the contact blocks 45 and the extensions or' lugs 45 the conductor Wires lead tospark plugs in the cylinders of thel internal combustion engine as" most clearly shownin Fig. 4. f

Inl addition to' the'A primary and secondary windupheretoforejeferred to; '1" 'provide a su ple'mental 'Wind-ing whicli is in inductive relationlto .bothf'the primary and secondary windingsof ,the induction coil and which when@ ,closed jh'as 'fte'ndency to `concentrate theilin'e'sof'forceand keep the induced cui;i rent' within Lp 'redeteriniiledfliniits, eliminati ing all tendency olsupempose Secondary waves, and l''corisec'luent"l surging of magnetic action' in Vthe. core; therebyretardin'g 'the magnetic 'uxllin" the coil-with consequent retardation 'of current;ii'avefr L In Fig 4- IQliave -shown the switch, by means "of which'fth'e 'current is closed,l aspro-v vided with yn'eiiryis'"forE closiz'g the supple- 4mental circuit above referred ,t'o,"but it will be f inderstd ,that this supplemental ciri cuitcalrbe 4clos'edliy any other 'independent switch if desired. It fwill'fals'vv be' understood thatE theV iusu'al A'fonr of tzon''le'nser,V C vwillbe employed in'- connection vvithjfthe' induction coil'f but` 'ekperience las deIr'x'oiist'rated."thinJ by the-use of the supi ,lemhtal circuit acni dense ofrnuch'srn'al er'cpacity'can be ein-A "loye: ""'l ,f i p In the construction show 'nin Fig.'V 2 the astingplate" isformed'with a'gear case' vh'ich lifs a lr-lat'eral' "e'ztension20" 'andi fitting upon" said gear and extension isA a cap plate 20a. `(A"gar 20 is' mounted upon the endi'of'theicam sliaft'f21 which' gear 20 meshes with an idler'20t 'which inhturn transmitsv powerto ageari20g'mounted upon the end of the shaft 4Qlw'vhich "carries the interrupter, whichissubstantially the same as thatfprevioi'isljfdescribed so far usgeneral features of'constructin and Voperation are concerned. "Il'xe distribixter 'casingr 25b differs slightly in"constructioninasmuch as the conductor Wires'arc carried out hori- '/,ontally instead of vertically as shown in Figs, l and 5. The brass plate 2S is foi-ined with un extension 2S to which the operating rod is connected, said extension 28b carrying a spring 28 connected thereto and adapted to engage' the'serrated edge 2S formed in the periphery of the plate E282 to which the distribu'ter casing is bolted. This plate 28 has a tubular hub portion 28' through Which a set screw 28g is adapted to pass for the purpose f securing the distributer in its proper adjustment in order that the distribution and interruption may take place only at the peak of the wave.

The construction and arrangement of the rotary disk and distributor plate is substan tially identical with thosepreviously de-V scribed and the general mode of operation identical, it being understood that in connection with this form of device the primary` secondary and supplemental coils yare a1- ranged and operate in the same manner.

'In the construction shown in Fig. 3 a bevel 'gear 5()` is mounted upon the forward end of the cam shaft and meshes with a similar gear lrmounted upon the lower end of a shaftv52 journaled in a casing fastened upon the front casting plate 2O by means of suitable arms or extensions.' The bearingr 54 through which the shaft passes also serves as the support for the plate 55 to which the distributer casing'y 25 :is at tached, the plate 55 having a tubular hub portion which lits 'upon the bearing 5st and is secured by means of a set'sscrew. 5G at the proper -point of adjustment in order that the current interruption may' take place only at'the peak of the `ivave. Inthis construction and that shown in Fig. 9 this initial adjustment is accomplished by shifting the positionof the distributer casing upon the support and then securing,r the same, whereas in the construction 'shown in Figs. 1s 5 and 6 the' brass 4plate `Within the 'metal cup is shifted in" the proper direction and then securedj"This initial'shifting `ma"y orA may not be necessaryin order to properly position the various operating parts in order to bring them all into synchronous operation. but after 4the initial adjustment has once ybeen obtained no further adjustment of the distributor as a whole is 'necessary and the ad vancement or retardation of the sparlf. is accomplished by the shifting ct' the metal cup in Figs. 5 andfG, and the base plates in Figs, 8 and 9 and 1l and 12, and all of the adjustments for advancing and retarding the spark are indexed u pon the angle of l llo so that with a sixteen-pole magneto there is bound to he proper synchrony between the various moving parts after the initial and proper position has once heen obtained as it is obvious that each'aud every retarding or advancing movement must hc iu the proper relative amount ln the construction illustrated in l `ipgs Il, 1U, ll` l2 und ifi the distributor is held in its adjusted position bymeans of a spring pressed ball or sphere 37a registering with one of a series of depressions 38y produced in the metal plate 38b to whichthe distributer casing is attached, the ball or sphere 3T being held in place within a tubular cap 38 provided with a coil spring)d normally holding the ball or sphere in sut'ient sure to lock the casing'at. the desiredV point ci' adjustment but readily permitting move'- ient when desired.

The contact points and the means for scparating them aresubstiantially similar. to those previously described. The Contact plates however are of somewhat dft'erent construction, there beingr two plates 60 and (51 arranged one above thev other andwcured to the top ,ofithe dielectric disk mounted upon the end of the rotary shaft.4 Theplate 60 has a notchv 60? at one end and the plate 61 has a tongue 61a at its enil and these-two plates are placed together and fastened so that the tongue 61* :entendsfup through? the slot or notch in the end of theplatel) and is projected into acentral position so that it contacts with .the source otfsnppy at'the center of ythe distributor casing, while the broad uubrokenend-othaplate 60 projects slightly beyondtherotating' ,diskI and .s,positioned to contact respectively with; theme11-, tacts leading to the spark plugs.

By moans ofthe two springplatesintereA posed one upon the other fin amanncr vherein shown anddescribed vany variationin the operating parts; will be compensatedtor. In this constructionas inthe others the pri; mary, secondary and Supplementaleoil nre connected, arranged and; 'operated inutile Same manner and .for the. same ;ufulpur1 poses. The operation 'of thefsystemtas a whole ,isapparent from fthedrawing and descri tion audit will thus be seen-tirati provi e a simple and highly efiicientf.ig'iuif tion system. particularly adaptedor use in connection with Va..multipolar magneto, and which will completelyv ,eliminate theuse, of aV separate coil foneachcylindor as idcom quently conserve a proportionatesreducw tion in the use of current.,: i

Furthermore I am abile to initially adjust the Vmovingznparts so thatthe cnrrentinterf ruption will occur only at the, peak of the currentiwave; andyfinally by the use of the supplemental circuit I am ablie'to concenf trate the lin es ,of force and keep the iniducedA currents within predetermined limits thereby eliminating alltendency to superimpose secondary waves and consequent surging of magnetic -action in `the core, this being a highly advantageousresult inasmuch as the current ware is transformed: from a sharp jagged uneven contour into a steady undulating wave of sine form and from which a spark omuch greater intensity is produced.

moo-taza Having thus described my invention, what I claim is?? l, In an ignition system, an interruptor comprising an adjustable contact lpoint, a movable arm carrying a contact pointa rotating shaft and cam for operating said arm, and a base plate to which said arm is attached, said base plate being adjustable to synchronize said interi-opter with the current impulses flowing therethrough, and independent means for .adjusting said interruptor with reference to said shaft.

2.. In an ignitionsystem the combination, with a carnshaft, ofa recessed casting plate, a washer-surrounding said shaft and'located in such recess, an` annular boss upon said plate, a cup located in said boss, an inter-- rupter mounted Within said eup, and a distributor mounted upon` said casting plate and coveringsaid cup.

3. In an ignition system the combination, with a cam shaft, of a casting platehawing an annular boss and a recess, a-.cup located in said boss anda washerlloc'ated in said recess between said plate and cup, an interrunter arranged Within said cup, means for adjusting said interrupter with reference to said cup, independentzmeans for adjusting the cup; andadistrihuter casing attaohedto said casting and-covering said'cup.

4. Inan ignition. system the combination` with a camshaft, of a casting plato having an annular boss and .a recess, a cup arranged in said boss and. a washer of absorbentmm terial arranged in said recess between 4said cupand plate, means for adjusting said cup a `definite distance, meansfor holding the cup so adjusted, and. adistribnterf casing attached. tosaid plate and ooveringsaid cup. 5. In. an ignition s yrgtemi thecombination, with .an independent source of electric enorgy, or a. castingplate, a. cam .shaft pas$= ingigtlierethmugh, .an interrupter surrmuid.I ing andi operatedrby said. cam shaft, and. a listributer.arranged upon said interruptor and Ailncdlyconnectedwto said. plate,. said interruptor being movable with reference to said cam' shaft and: distributor.

'6. Inanignition system the combination, with an independent source o irperiodio curs 1ent,'of a camshaft, an.l adjustable interrupterarranged therewith and operated thereby, al distributor casing arrangedf in operative relation to' said. interrupter *anda having a centrally arranged contact point and a plurality of spaced contact blocks, .a contact ate adapted to engage said point and blodlls, said plate bein 'an extension of butA insulated from said s aft, said blocks being of greater'width than the thickness of the Acontact plate whereby lateral variance of position of said plate can be accommof dated.

7. In an ignition system, a distributor comprising a casing having a cylindrical l li.)

opening,y Contact blocks embedded in the wall of said opening, the inner faces of said blocks bein curved upon the are of a circle and coinciding with the face of said Wall, said blocks having integral extensions arranged in pairs1 the extension of each pair being spaced in the direction of the axis of said opening but being in a plane including said axis, whereby straight line connections can be had within the casing and inone direction.

8. In an ignition system, a distributer comprising a casing of dielectric material, a plurality of exterior connections carried by said casing, a centrally arranged contact point having a straight line connection with one of said exterior connections, and a plurality of Contact blocks spaced at definite points and having interior straight line connections with their respective exterior connections, together with a rotating member carrying a contact plate adapted to engage said contact point and blocks, said interior connections being at right angles to the axis of rotation of the said member.

9. In an ignition system, an interrupter comprising an adjustable Contact point, a movable arm carrying a contact point, a rotating shaft and cam for operating said arm, and a support to which said arm is attached` said support bein@ adjustable to cause the operation ot said interrupter to bear a definite relation to the Wave of an exterior source of alternating current, means for holding said support in the adjusted position and independent means for adjusting said interrupter With reference to said shaft including a plurality of equally spaced positions each bearing the same relation to the Wave of said alternating current,

10. In an ignition system the combination of a casting plate haring an annular boss, said annular boss having a tubular radial projection7 a cup arranged in said boss, said cup having at one side adjacent the extension of the boss a plurality of openings or depressions, and openings or depressions being spaced at definite points. means for shifting said cup Within said boss, and spring-actuated locking means arranged in said boss extension and adapted to engage said openings or depressions in the cup and hold the same in any one ot its adjusted p0- sitions, together with an interrupter arranged within said cup.

11. In an ignition system`r an interrupter comprising an adjustable contact point, a movable arm carrying a contact point, a rotating shaft and cam for operating said arm, and a support to which said arm is attached, said support being adjustable to vary the operation of said interrupter be tween the limits of maximum and minimum current values of an alternating current` means for retaining said support in the adjusted position and additional means for ad justing said interrupter about said shaft and cam to a plurality of positions each of which shall cause said interruptor to operate at a current value equal. to that obtained by the adjusted position of said support.

In testimony whereof1 I hereunto afiix my signature.

VILLIAM W. HAWKINS. 

